We both turned our heads toward Thomas, who was now standing there, and I was taken by surprise by the look on his face. I had never seen Thomas angry before. He was always the quiet one, the one who smiled, took instructions, and kept to himself. He never got involved in household matters. So seeing him like this was a shock, but it also made me pause.He shut Rose down with a single look, his voice a little too cold. "Know your place in this house."Without another word, he walked toward me, opening the door to the back garden. "Miss, they’re out there," he said quietly, gesturing toward where Emerson and Madeline were. I could tell Thomas wanted a moment alone with Rose, so I shot her one last look and stepped outside, letting the door close behind me.As I walked down the garden path, I tried to shake off the strange feeling from earlier, but something was still bothering me. The tension was high, not just from Rose’s words but from the whole atmosphere in this house. And yet,
"Someone wrote the word BITCH here. I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes. They wrote it here. It’s just here." I pointed insistently. "Am I supposed to have just eliminated it? I’m not making this up. Why would I make it up? It was written right here. B-I-T-C-H. In small little capital letters, right here at the corner."I looked toward Emerson, but there was no reaction on his face. "Emerson, seriously, why would I make this up? And why would someone scratch it? You told me it’s brand new. So, are you telling me I just scratched it by myself? Who scratched it?""Calm down," Emerson interrupted softly, stepping towards me with his usual calmness. He placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, Mia. Take a deep breath. Just breathe."I exhaled slowly, watching him, needing him to believe me, to believe what I saw. And finally, he said, "I believe you."I sighed with relief. "You would never do that.“ Emerson continued, “It’s not in your behaviour, not in your character.
"Yes, Miss, I understand you perfectly, and it won't repeat itself again," Rose bites out each word, her tone barely masking the resentment beneath her facade. She doesn’t want to do this, I can see it in her face, and feel it in the way each syllable is pronounced. But as long as she stays in her lane, I really don’t care.“You can go now,” I tell her dismissively.She looks down, then turns and walks toward the door, dragging her feet. As soon as she closed it, I let out a deep sigh of relief. When I came into this house, I expected things to go smoothly. I knew everyone here already, after all. I thought this would be a small, quick transition, that everyone would remain as cordial as they’d always been. But everyone’s different now, except for Thomas, who keeps to himself as he always has. He just gets the updates, nods, and goes on with his day.My relationship with Madeline seems to have gone down the drain. We were once close, and now… it’s like there’s a wall between us. Ros
I laugh, even though we both know he’s joking. "Maybe I should start my own business," I joke.But then, I see his face turn serious like he just heard something incredible."Yes," he says, a smile spreading across his face. "You should open your own company. I believe in you, and I know how brilliant you are. You’d be amazing. You should start thinking about it right now.""Are you serious?" I ask, surprised. "Because I only said it as a joke.""Of course I’m serious! Are you kidding?“ “Looking at how excited you are already. I’m starting to get excited too!"His enthusiasm catches me off guard. I can’t help but smile. "I mean, I guess since I already have the money, I wouldn’t need to worry about getting capital or investors.""Exactly. And while it wouldn’t hurt to have some backing from a company like the Blackwinds, it’s entirely up to you.""Oh, please," I say, rolling my eyes. "You’re not serious.""I am." He nods earnestly. "I’ll give you the funding to open the company. And
By the time evening comes, I have spent the day lazying in bed. I haven't eaten anything. Ever since I had brunch with Emerson this morning, I haven't even had an appetite. But as I get out of the house and walk around the garden, I suddenly get an idea. I'm going to surprise Emerson with food. Yes! When...he comes home tonight. How should I surprise him? Hmm... Yes. I'm going to make him a surprise dinner, and maybe tonight we can change our relationship and the rules he has tried building when I got here, although they never worked anyway, because I still remember the heat in his eyes this morning in Eric's office.That decided I go into the kitchen. I'm not a very good cook or not a bad one either. I used to cook when Eric and I were living together, so I think I can cook something decent. Plus I'm sure that Emerson would enjoy the gesture and enjoy the effort. I go into the kitchen and find Madeline.“Hi!” I say to her.“Hi,” she responds, but right now, our relationship seems l
I go into my bedroom and start choosing my night dress. I choose the skimpiest, most seductive nightdress I own, something I know will catch Emerson's attention. The fabric is delicate, hugging me in all the right places. I pair it with a light, elegant robe on top so I can comfortably go downstairs without drawing too much attention, at least not from anyone but him.With a deep breath, I glance at myself in the mirror, feeling a rush of confidence. Tonight, I’m setting the stage. Whatever chaos surrounded us earlier, I’m determined to make this evening something memorable.I take a long bubble bath, letting the warmth soak away the tension of the day as I prepare myself for the evening. Afterwards, I smooth on my favourite lotion, enjoying the light fragrance as I spray a hint of perfume. I put effort into every detail—my hair is styled in a loose, elegant bun, with a few strands framing my face. A little makeup completes the look, just enough to enhance my features without overdoin
I looked up at Emerson, breathing hard, meeting his intense gaze as I ran my hands across his chest, feeling the firmness beneath my fingers. He shivered at my touch, his eyes following my every move, and I whispered, “You want me to stop?”For a second, his face tightened, and he nodded slowly, almost reluctantly. “Why?” I asked, my voice a gentle whisper, feeling the vulnerability in him. My hands roamed over his body, and as I leaned in, I placed a soft kiss on the left side of his chest, just over his heart. He inhaled sharply, catching my hand as if to steady himself, as if he couldn’t hold back.“What?” I murmured, raising my gaze to his face, searching his eyes for answers he wouldn’t say. But the hesitation was fading, replaced by a raw want that he could no longer hide.Standing on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips lightly against his, first a soft peck, a gentle nudge that grew as I kissed his cheek, then his jawline, tasting the warmth of his skin. When I finally pressed my
I froze with my hand on the door. I wanted to turn back and look at him, but I didn’t. I knew what Emerson was like. I stood there for a few seconds as the room grew tenser. And then I smiled. I opened the door and left, not closing it behind me, not making a move to acknowledge his words or acknowledge him at all. I went straight to my room, with a mixture of emotion within myself.I was fuming with anger, but for some reason, I couldn’t explain, I was smiling. And then, out of nowhere, I started laughing. I didn’t even know what was so funny. 'What the hell is wrong with Emerson? What is wrong with him?' I thought to myself. 'He did not just say that to me.' But I knew he did. He just did. I sat on the bed, replaying every second of our night together in my head. It was amazing. It was everything I’d hoped for. So why in the world was Emerson acting this way?Maybe Emerson is just like his son, Eric. Maybe they’re the same. 'What was I supposed to understand from this? That I wa
When we got to the company, I didn't know what I was expecting. Maybe a bunch of people waiting there for me, maybe people staring at me. But when we arrived, it was surprisingly calm.No paparazzi or media insight.caAs we stepped out of the car and went inside, I greeted the security guard. "Good morning," I said casually, waving at him. He gave a polite nod, almost like a bow, but I didn’t think much of it.We passed the two secretaries at the front desk. I was used to Diane—I used to talk to her a lot when I worked here. Just because I was now Emerson’s fiancée didn’t mean I’d suddenly start ignoring her. But when I stopped to say hello, their eyes widened in surprise. Diane and her colleague both looked startled, as though I’d done something completely unexpected.“Hi, Diane. How have you been?” I asked, ignoring their shocked expressions.“It’s… it’s going fine, Mrs Blackwind,” she stammered, her voice filled with both nervousness and formality.I frowned slightly. She’d never
“It will also be very good for us,” Emerson said, persuasive.“Good for us?” I repeated skeptically. “The only thing it will do is land us on the front page.”“Yes,” he admitted, nodding “but it could also land us on the front page for something good. I mean, think about it. People think you’re going after me for my money. Everyone knows you and Eric don’t get along. But imagine this: the four of us sitting at one table, having an amazing dinner, and everything going smoothly. It would send a message. People would see the Blackwind family getting along and wonder why they’ve been making so much noise and attacking you. It’s like we’d turn the narrative on its head.”I listened to his words, thinking them over. As much as I hated to admit it, it kind of made sense.“Huh,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “You came prepared, didn’t you? Ready to convince me to agree with this?”“Yes,” he said with a grin. “I was actually afraid you’d say no to the dinner because of the cameras and the
“I don’t know, Emerson,” I said, uncertain. “I mean, I don’t want you to lose the Flagler Corporation, I know how important they are for the Blackwind company, but I really don’t want to work with Eric.”Emerson leaned forward, calm and determined. “Don’t worry, Mina. You’re not just working with Eric. You’ll also be working with Tina's son, Trayson. It’ll be the three of you, so I’m sure everything is going to be fine and civil. Plus, Eric will behave if he knows someone else is in the group, someone new and someone he will want to impress. You know how he is—macho and full of pride. He knows Trayson will be handling his mother's company in the future, and since he stands to take charge of mine, he will want to establish a great image. He wouldn’t want Tina’s son thinking he’s taking advantage of you and seeming lazy”I folded my arms, my doubt still heavy.Emerson reached across the table, taking both my hands in his. His eyes met mine, trying to be reassuring. “Besides, you’re my f
I turned my attention back toward Emerson. “What do you mean you want me to go back to work at the company? I don’t understand. Are you saying you want me to go back to work at Blackwind?”“Yes,” he said firmly. “We need you back at the office. Do you think you could consider coming back?”I stared at him, completely bewildered. Why would they want me back? This had Eric written all over it. Everything about this situation screamed his name.I leaned forward, my brows furrowing. “Is this about Eric?”Emerson sighed heavily, rubbing his face with both hands before letting them fall onto the table. “I’m afraid so.”I froze, my heart sinking. “Please don’t tell me you fired him. Don’t tell me you fired Eric and now you’re asking me to take his position. Emerson, that’s going to cause so much havoc, so much trouble.” My voice quickened as I laid out my concerns. “I mean, all the drama we went through with the media and tabloids when people found out about us and our engagement? That won
We went downstairs to have breakfast. Emerson poured us both coffee and as we started eating, he said, “Mina, you remember when I told you I had to tell you something?”“Yeah, I remember. What is it?”“I actually need you to help me with something.”“Okay, what is it? Just tell me,” I said, leaning forward, curious.“It’s actually a very big ask,” he added, his tone serious.“It’s okay. What is it? There’s nothing big you can’t ask of me.” I gave him an encouraging smile as I poured some juice into my glass. “So, what is it?”“I need you to go back to the company,” he said, his words deliberate.I froze, staring at him. “What do you mean, go back to the company?”“I mean, I need you to come back to work at the company,” he said, holding my gaze.Clang.Before I could respond, the sudden sound of something crashing startled us. We turned toward the door leading to the kitchen and found Madeline standing there, her face pale as the breakfast tray she’d been carrying lay scattered on the
I was still coming down from my high, the adrenaline and warmth coursing through me, and I wanted to say something—anything. Before I could, his phone rang again."Sorry," he said, letting me go as he moved toward the phone and picked it up. His brow furrowed as he answered. "What's so urgent?" he asked, his tone clipped but controlled.As he listened to whoever was on the other end of the phone, I decided to get up. I headed into the bathroom for a long, cold shower, the rush of water grounding me. By the time I emerged, wrapped in a towel, he was still on the phone, pacing the room and giving instructions.I moved into the wardrobe, deciding to focus on myself. I applied oil to my skin, carefully following my skincare routine, and then picked out something light and comfortable for the day. As I worked, I couldn’t help but notice Emerson’s voice filtering through the wardrobe door, his tone steady but laced with authority. He was busy—too busy, it seemed, for us to spend any real
Thank you for making my day," Emmerson said, his voice soft and genuine as his eyes locked with mine, holding my gaze in a way that made my heart skip. He wasn’t just saying words; he was letting me feel them. He wanted me to understand, to truly grasp what he meant. And I did.I saw it in his expression, the sincerity in his tone. I understood him completely, and more than that, I believed him. Every single word.“This has turned out to be a very good day," he continued, his lips curving into a smile that felt like the sun breaking through clouds. "And I’m sure it’s going to be even better, all because of you." He paused as if searching for the perfect words to express himself. "Thank you.”I felt a warm flush in my chest at his appreciation. But then his expression shifted slightly, just enough to catch my attention. A shadow of something darker flickered in his eyes. "Because yesterday…" he trailed off,“Yesterday was a total disaster.” His shoulders tensed as he exhaled, shaking h
Mina"So, what do you think?" I asked Emerson, my voice steady, but my heart was pounding so hard it felt like the beats might echo through the room. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. It was alive, alive and nervous because I had no idea what Emerson was thinking.What if I had made a massive mistake? What if this was too soon? What if all those beautiful days in Paris didn’t mean we were ready for this step? What if I had completely misread the signals?"Hmm," he finally said, his tone neutral as he walked past me, and then turned around.I couldn’t read his expression, only the broad line of his shoulders and the way he moved, deliberate but calm. He glanced around the room, his silence stretching until I couldn’t bear it any longer.He was standing there, the same unreadable look on his face.“Come on,” I said, my voice shaky but light, trying to mask my nerves. “What do you think? Just tell me. Give it to me straight.”“Um… it’s not bad,” he said, shrugging.“Not bad?” I repeated, my
"What do you want me to do? How do you want me to make this right?" I asked Tina, my voice steady but weary as I watched her and waited to hear what she had to say.“For starters, I want to see Mina,” she said, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.“That’s fine. She’ll be coming to work tomorrow, and the two of you can sit down and talk, whatever you want.” I offered.“No,” she interjected firmly. “I will be leaving tomorrow night. I want to have dinner with her before I leave.”“Tomorrow then,” I replied, nodding. “Not a problem. Do you want it to be just the two of you or would you want me there?”“No,” she said with a faint smile. “I’m in town, and I haven’t seen my friend in such a long time. Plus, I’m here with my son, and I want him to meet Mina before the two of them start working together.”“Okay. What do you propose?” I asked, trying to gauge her intent.“I want us to have a family dinner together, my family and yours” she declared. “I’ll come with my son. You come with M